AEOLUS INSTRUMENTS:
DALE E. FOYE & CYNTIA SMITH

DALE E. FOYE
     In late summer of 1975, Mr. Dale E. Foye began a five-year apprenticeship in classical and flamenco guitar building and repair under the tutelage of Master Luthier Bob Mattingly.  Mr. Mattingly, owner of a music store in Long Beach, Ca. called the "World of Strings", had recently returned from Spain where he had visited the shops of Miguel Rodriquez, Manuel de la Chica, Antonio Marin Montero, and other famous Spanish luthiers of the era.
This experience was to boost his guitar building to another level and Mr. Foye, as his apprentice, would greatly benefit.  In 1980, Mr. Foye met Ruth Barrett and Cyntia Smith, both professional fretted dulcimer players, songwriters, and singers.  Because of their need for a top quality instrument, Mr. Foye added the fretted dulcimer to his work.  From 1980 to 1985, Mr. Foye managed the "World of Strings" and in 1983 he formed, in partnership with Cyntia Smith, "Aeolus Instruments".  After 1985 to present, he has been a full time luthier residing in the city of Westminster, Ca.
     The "Dulcimer Players News" did a cover article on Mr. Foye and his work in 1989.  The "Musician" magazine in 1990 ran a special guitar issue called, "the Whole Guitar Book," where Mr. Foye was listed by Beverly Maher, owner of the "Guitar Salon" in New York city, as one of "America's 17 Finest classical Guitar makers".  Mr. Foye has sold his instruments privately as well as through Beverly Maher's "Guitar Salon" on the East coast and the "World of Strings" on the West coast.  Recently the virtuoso flamenco guitarist Guillermo Ríos purchased one of his instruments for professional use and featured this guitar on his Mel Bay instructional videos Vol. II & III.

CYNTIA SMITH
     Cyntia Smith has been a professional dulcimer player and teacher for the past eighteen years and has produced, with her partner Ruth Barrett, five record albums.  Cyntia has taught at Lois Hornbostel's ASU Dulcimer Workshop in Boone, NC., Swananoa gathering in NC., and the Winterfest of Acoustic Music in Irving, Texas as well as giving private lessons.  Cyntia is also the program director of the Harvest Festival of Dulcimers and is vice-president and co-founder of the Southern California Dulcimer Heritage.  Cyntia has also been Mr. Foye's expert helper for most of those years and became an accomplished inlay artist for those customers desiring something unique with their instruments.  And last but not least, in the Spring of 1999, Cyntia will graduate from Chapman University with a Bachelors of Music in Music Therapy.